Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Next time the culprit won't be as obvious, I promise :P

Yet another drawing by Veltrops, this time with lots of people wearing red (read: Miharu, Kuroda and Aurora. Link: fav|me/d74bfw8, replace "|" with ".". As always, there is also a link on my profile.)

"..." Kioshi gripped the stand in front of him tightly, head down, shaking slightly. "I..."

Izanagi crossed his arms, giving the hunter a contemptuous look. "The criminal has been caught. I request we proceed to voting."

"The end of trial is here, eh? Give me a minute, and we'll begin!" Clambering over the arms of his chair, Monokuma disappeared behind it. Although he was hidden from view, from the noises being produced Kuroda guessed he was rummaging around for something.

"Heh heh heh. I am better at this detective business than I had originally predicted..." A tense silence was broken by Erika murmuring to herself. "Perhaps it's time for a career change."

She called out to Monokuma. "Is now a good time? I wish to change my title to The Great Detective Erika."

"Grr... Changing titles again so soon?" The bear replied from behind the chair, irritated. "Have it your way, you bastard. I'll see what I can do."

"Not to rain on your parade... but isn't The Great Detective kind of a step down from Supreme Logician?" Kuroda ventured.

"But of course." She answered. "When switching professions, one must start from the bottom."

"I... see." Of course, he didn't actually understand at all, and it was quickly starting to look like any attempts to understand Erika were futile.

Monokuma reappeared, clutching a small gavel which he carefully placed on the armrest of his chair. At the same time, Kuroda felt his student ID vibrate from inside his pocket. "Okay, you bastards! I've uploaded a new program to your student IDs!"

As the bear promised, when Kuroda looked at his ID there was now a new program available in the menu. Opening it up, the screen simply displayed 16 square panels, a student's name and picture in each.

One in particular stood out him - Haruna's picture. Unlike the pictures of the others, which were all in colour, hers was in black and white. More noticeable, however, was the bloody red cross that had been drawn over her picture.

He had seen the picture before, and he didn't need to look up to know where - it was the same picture that Monokuma had substituted for the soccer player during the trial.

"Feast your eyes on the Monokuma voting system! It's designed for ease of use, but I'll explain it anyway!" Monokuma exclaimed. "Tap once to vote on which of your classmates is the culprit, and tap again to confirm. It's so simple, a soccer player could do it... too bad one of you bastards killed her! Ahahaha!"

Kuroda hesitated, half expecting a dig at how Monokuma had broken character. It never came.

He turned his attention back to the voting screen. Quickly locating Kioshi, he tapped it. Immediately it zoomed in so the hunter's picture filled up most of the screen. Along the bottom, a button appeared with the word 'Vote' written on it.

For a moment Kuroda's hand hovered over the vote button, struck by sudden doubt as Kioshi's face stared back at him.

What if they got the wrong person? What would happen then...?

Pushing his doubts away, he pressed the button. Upon doing so Kuroda noticed with a nervous jolt that the image briefly changed - it turned black and white with a bloody cross over it, same as Haruna - before returning to normal.

The reminder made Kuroda feel a little sick. Kioshi might have committed murder, but he was still sending the hunter to his death.

Realising his ID had automatically exited the voting program, he put it away and scanned the room. Although a good portion of the group were also standing around waiting, many of his classmates were still deliberating over who to vote for.

Eventually, one by one each of the remaining students case their votes. Akemi, Takao, Shunari, Ichigo, Hisoka, Rei... Tomoe was the final person to vote, giving Kioshi a scrutinising look before entering her choice.

"About time you bastards finished! The votes are coming in now!" Monokuma announced. He turned in his seat and looked up, drawing attention to the spinning slot machine situated above his chair.

After a few tense seconds, the slot machine settled on Kioshi. Immediately, confetti burst from the sides, accompanied by an overflow of coins pouring out of the machine.

"Congratulations, you bastards! You got it right!" The bear exclaimed, applauding them. "Kioshi is indeed the killer! After setting up his little trick with the rooms, he strangled poor, defenceless Haruna!"

"It's been a clean sweep, too!" He added. "A completely unanimous vote, even from the culprit himself!"

The knowledge they got the right person was a small comfort, although Kuroda couldn't bring himself to feel happy about it. After a pause, Shunari voiced what they were all thinking. "So... what happens now?"

"Well, as much as I'd like to jump straight into our very first execution, there's something I want to do first." Monokuma answered. "As you all know, I'm a bear who hates to leave loose ends hanging around!"

"What is there left to clean up?" Miharu asked. "You said yourself we got the culprit right..."

"The motive, of course! Don't you want to know why he committed the murder?" He turned to Kioshi. "Go on! enlighten us, you bastard!"

At first Kioshi didn't say anything, but under the gazes of the whole room he reluctantly began to speak. "It's not worth it. You wouldn't understand..." He trailed off.

Rei gave him a pleading look. "P-please, Kioshi... I-I'd like to know."

"Don't look at me like that!" He snapped, his expression becoming annoyed. "It's not like I have some grand motive. I didn't have any choice."

"W-What do you mean?" Rei seemed to wilt a little as Kioshi gave her an exasperated look, but she stood her ground. Eventually deciding it wasn't worth arguing, the hunter began to elaborate.

"It all started... No, it's all because of that gun..." Kioshi explained. "I knew Monokuma was being serious. If no one did anything, he was going to kill all of us."

"But... we agreed that it was all a bluff, right?" Tomoe pointed out.

"And who told you that? Aurora?" Kioshi said with a sigh. "You're a fool if you bought that. I'll bet you anything she's the one with the fast track sheet."

The quarterback opened her mouth to protest, but Kioshi ignored her.

"Can't you see? I had 48 hours to commit the perfect murder... Kill or be killed." The hunter continued. "If I screwed up, I was going to die. If I didn't kill anyone, I was going to die anyway. I had nothing to lose."

"What about the poker game? It was crucial to your plan." Takao asked. "Surely you couldn't have arranged that beforehand."

"Luck." Kioshi said, shrugging. "I was planning to ambush her, but I got the idea to change the rooms when someone wanted to play cards... Are you happy now?"

"Kioshi..." Aurora tried again, but she was ignored a second time.

"I made my attempt to graduate. That's all there is to it." He finished calmly. Closing his eyes, he turned away from the circle of students.

"Upupu... Tried, and failed." Monokuma added tauntingly. "Justice waits for no one, so let's get this execution started!"

As the bear finished speaking, Kuroda heard a mechanism spring to life. A small panel in the floor opened up, and a small podium rose out of the ground bearing a huge red button. Gleefully grabbing the gavel lying on the arm of his chair, Monokuma enthusiastically slammed the button.

GAME OVER

Masaoka Kioshi has been found guilty.

Commencing Execution.

...

Alone on a plateau, Kioshi stands solemnly as thick shackles snap closed around his ankles, immoblizing him as a huge arcade machine falls into place and chain fences spring up, trapping him inside the arena.

The game sparks to life and a screen appears, depicting a grassy field set against a cloudless blue sky and a single, lonely tree. In the top corner of the screen sits a small 8-bit representation of Kioshi.

BEAR HUNT

Kioshi is handed a gun by Monokuma. Although plastic and brightly coloured, it is otherwise a perfect replica of a real handgun, but he is given no time to marvel at the weapon as the game begins.

8-bit Monokumas fly quickly over the screen, but do not make it all the way across as they are expertly shot down one by one by the SHSL Hunter. A kill counter along the bottom of the screen quickly fills up, while an ammo gauge decreases at equal pace.

10...

...20...

...30...

...40...

...50...

...60...

...70...

...80...

...90...

Taking a look at Kioshi's face, it is almost possible to forget he is in the midst of an execution. Pouring all of his focus into shooting down every Monokuma, for a moment he looks at peace...

And then, the counter fills to 99.

Click.

Out of bullets, Kioshi is left to watch helplessly as the 100th Monokuma tauntingly floats across the screen and out of sight.

Game over.

The 8-bit Kioshi at the top of the screen flashes and disappears while another Monokuma pops out of the grass, letting out a silent, malicious snicker at his expense.

Before Kioshi can react he is violently pulled away by the chains bound to his ankles, which drag him across the plateau, away from the giant arcade and straight into the waiting mouth of an ominous looking machine.

The many parts of the contraption churn, shaking the ground with a series of loud, emphatic bangs. As quickly as it began the machine quickly grinds to a halt, and a conveyor belt attached to the far end of the machine starts up.

The quiet whirring of the belt is so innocuous in comparison to the previous sounds the machine emitted it is unnerving. Eventually, a brand new case of bullets pops out, and is proudly presented to the onlooking students.

As the execution finished, without warning another picture stand popped out of the ground, occupying the space that Kioshi took for the class trial. Time seemed to stand still as the class simply stood and stared at what remained of the hunter.

Two of his classmates, dead... The despairing atmosphere was almost palpable, and under the pressure it created Kuroda's mind struggled to process the new developments.

Eventually, Erika broke the silence.

"Ah, executions." She reminisced, seemingly unaffected by the execution that had just occurred. "A little more... creative than what I am used to, but it still makes me feel nostalgic."

"We just watched Kioshi die, and that's all you have to say...?" Ichigo asked, taken aback.

"Of course, I am filled with sadness on Kioshi's behalf. Clearly he was not properly prepared to commit murder." Her usual smile did not disappear as she spoke, making her speech especially creepy to listen to. "Thus, he was executed a murderer. Very unfortunate. Perhaps he should have waited for the graduation after all..."

"He just died, and you're giving a fucking performance review?" Daisuki yelled angrily. "Is this some kind of fucking game to you!? Don't talk like you're better than him!"

The graffiti artist took a threatening step towards Erika, but in a flash Izanagi moved to protect the logician, standing in between the graffiti artist and his target.

"Violence is not permitted, Yoshikawa." Standing at full height the warden adopted an aggressive stance, clearly expecting a fight. "Stand down."

After giving Izanagi a long, hard stare he eventually obeyed, taking a step backwards. Of course, this didn't stop him from staring daggers at the logician.

"Thank you, Izanagi..." Erika said, meeting Daisuki's angry gaze over the warden's shoulder. "However, I must concede that Daisuki is correct."

"This was a game to me." She continued. "Who lived, or died... It was none of my concern."

"What do you mean - of course it's your concern! Wouldn't we have all been killed if Kioshi didn't...!" Shunari trailed off, unwilling to finish the sentence.

The logician did not respond, instead reaching inside her jacket. In one elegant motion, she pulled out her envelope and revealed its contents to the gathered students - the sheet of paper with 'fast track' written on it.

"Heh heh heh. Do you understand now?"

"W-what the hell?" Daisuki stammered, eyes wide. "So when you got the time extended..."

"Yes... I had nothing to gain from it." Her smile grew slightly wider. "I hope you have not been making unfounded judgements, Daisuki. Altruism is one of my defining traits."

"So that's why Monokuma reacted like that when you asked to extend the time..." Hisoka speculated. "...Hm, that's not right. I thought he didn't know who got the fast track sheet."

"Oh, I lied!" Monokuma said cheerfully. "I put them in myself, you bastard! Of course I'd know who got it!"

"I still don't get it, Erika..." Akemi said thoughtfully. "Why extend the time we had?"

"I had no reason. Is that difficult to understand?" Erika answered.

"I guess I just don't really get the whole altruism angle." The astronomer replied. "Weren't you putting yourself at risk of getting murdered?"

"I prepared for that possibility, of course." The logician explained. "I requested Izanagi spend both nights in my room. I am sure he would have been able to handle anyone with the intention of killing me."

All eyes turned to Izanagi.

"I-I could not refuse...!" He protested. His shoulders were hunched so much of his face was obscured by the collar, but not enough to disguise the blush colouring his cheeks. "It's not like I slept in her room, I just kept watch...!"

"That's even worse..." Saito said flatly. "Did you just watch her sleep or something?"

"I had no time for that! I was keeping watch for intruders!" The violinist gave him a disbelieving look, but didn't pursue the subject. Shunari, however, did.

"Izanagi, I think she was messing with you..." The runner explained. "As long as she kept her door locked, no one would be able to get in."

"He was simply a backup, should a murderer find a loophole." Erika cut in swiftly. "One should always have a contingency plan."

"Say, isn't that kind of like putting all your eggs in one basket...?" Tomoe pointed out. "What if he tried to kill you?"

"Inconceivable." The logician replied. "I am an exceptional judge of character. By my calculations, Izanagi is statistically the least likely to commit murder." Out of the corner of his eyes, Kuroda noticed Izanagi looking rather pleased at Erika's remark.

"Yeah, but-"

Suddenly, Monokuma interrupted them. "Aah! I'm starting to despair, listening to you bastards talk when I've got work to do here! Go on, you bastards! Clear out!"

Obeying him, they all slowly filed into the elevator. There was little point in resisting, anyway - there was nothing left for them here, save for reminders of who had been lost.

As the elevator ascended, Kuroda looked back at the two picture stands that now sat alone in the empty courtroom. He hated to admit it, but he couldn't shake the feeling that wouldn't be the last they would see of them.

Act One: END

Students Alive: 14

Welp, exploring the motive really fucked up the dialogue distribution. Why must you talk so much, Erika :p

Next chapter is (probably) the bonus chapter, but I'll start the voting for the next round of Room Time events now. Same deal as last time, pick one room from the list to visit:

- Pool

- (Male) Changing rooms

- Pool Entrance

- A/V Room

- Library

- 2F Classrooms

And if you care, tell me whether you prefer 'survivors' or 'students alive' for the death counter. I've been using survivors up until now, but I actually quite like the sound of the latter.